Counterfeit items found at Rogers Sale

July 26, 2014

ROGERS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security raided the Rogers Community Auction Friday morning, removing counterfeit items from several vendors.

Khaalid Walls, spokesman for ICE, said special agents found so called "knock off" goods, mostly purses, sports apparel and perfume, for sale by 15 vendors. The seizures were reportedly made without any incident, and Walls said the operation caused little disruption to the remainder of the sale.

"This is something we monitor on an ongoing basis," Walls said.

It is not the first time items have been seized from vendors at the Rogers Sale. Although Walls would not say why officials went again to that particular location, he did say the department often investigates after getting tips from the public and works with businesses, which believe they are losing sales due to illegitimate items being offered for sale.

Walls said no charges have been filed at this time, but the seizures were part of an ongoing investigation conducted by officials. In the past, some vendors have been cited into Columbiana County Municipal Court on the charge of trademark counterfeiting.

The Rogers Community Auction is open every Friday boasting more than 1,000 vendors on 70 acres of property.